Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-01-13
ur1or w4R-soSss.
Tha Compliments Paid Them by
Confederate Officers.

Tfk0 Compliments raid AAcA ~
Confederate Officers.
In the Janusry Century Richard Went
worth Browne thus writes;
The reading Of Mr.. Brander Matthew's
nsonRa Of the War; in the August mum
Der OF the Century, wildly recalls 70
mind an incident of my own experience
which aeema to mo so apt an illustration
Of the effect Of army songs upon men
that venture to send 1t to you, as re-
member it, after az years.
A day or two after Lees surrender in
April, 1896, left our ship ut Dutch
Gap, % In the James river, for o run up TO
Richmond, where was joined by the
chips surgeon, the paymaster, and one
OF tho Junior oflicers. After doing"
Richmond pretty thoroughly we went in
the evening TO my rooms for dinner.
Dinner being over and the events Of the
day recounted, the doctor, who was q fine
player, opened the piano, saying boys,
we've got our old quartet here; let's have
q sing.h As the house opposite was oc-
cupied by paroled Confederate officers,
no patriotic songs were sung. Soon the
lady Of the house handed me this note /;
ssOompliments of General - and
staff. VIII the gentlemen kindly allow
us TO come over and hear them sing ~
OF course We consented, and they came.
As the general entered the room, reoog-
nized instantly the face and figure of one
who stood second only to Lee or jackson
In the whole Confederacy. After intro
auctions and the usual Interchange Of
civilihes, we sang for them glees and col
lege songs, until at Inst the general said ;
EXCUSE me, gentlemen, you sing de-
lightfully, but what we want to hear is
your army songs" Then we gave them
the array songs with JUNCTION, the Battle
Hymn Of the Republic" "John Browns
Body" ''We're Coming, Father Abra-
ham, !" TRAMP, Tramp, Tramp, tie Boys
aza Marching" through the whole cata-
logce, 10 the ''Star-spangled BanneE"-to
which many foot beat time as it had
never steRped to any but ''the music Of
the Union land closed our concert with
''Rally Round the Flag, Boys" When
the applause had subsidized, q tall, fine
looking fellow, in majors uniform, ex
claimed, "Gentlemen, If we'd had youl
songs we'd have licked you ont Of YOU
boots Who couldn't have marched Of
fought with such songs? While we hat
nothing, absolutely nothing, except |
bastard 'Msrsellaise,' the .Bonny Blu
Flag and Dixie which were hothini
but jigs. Maryland, my Maryland, wa
splendid song, but the true, old LauI
iger Horatius was about as inspiring q
the Dead March in SAUL Will
every one of the Yankee song
is full Of marching and fighting spirit,
Then turning to the general hs said: .
shall never forget the first time l hear
Rally Round the Flag Twas mast
night during the Seven Days Fight an
if remember rightly it was raining.
was on picket, when, just before taps
some fellow on the other side struck n
that song and others joined in the chorr
until it seemed to me the whole Yanks
army was singing. Tom B., who WI
with me, sung out, Good heavens, Cal
what are those fellows made Of, anyway
Here we've licked 'em six days running
and now on the eve of the seventh, they
singing Rally Round tic Flag l al
not naturally superstitious, but tell "
that song sounded to me like the 'knen
DOOM and my heart went down into n
boots; and though I've tried to do n
duty, it has been an uphill fight with I
ever since that night"
The little company OF Union SINCE
and Confederate auditors, after please
and interesting interchange Of stories
army experiences, then separated, and
the general shook hands at parting;
said to me g Well, the time may 60
when we can all sing the Star-spang
Banner again." have not seen |
since.